מַאֲכָל
𐤌𐤀𐤊𐤋
maʼăkâl
H3978 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Substance suitable for consumption as food; something eaten to sustain life or provide nourishment. Primarily denotes food in general, whether prepared or unprepared, animal or vegetable, for humans or animals. Depending on context, can refer to meat, fruit, or any provisioned foodstuff, but without specifying type unless contextually limited.
Semantic Range
food, substance for eating, provision, nourishment, edible item, animal feed, meat, fruit, anything consumed as food
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root אָכַל (אכל), meaning 'to eat' or 'to consume.' The noun מַאֲכָל forms a concrete noun from this root and designates that which is to be eaten. The root conveys the action of eating, but the noun signifies the object suitable for that action—i.e., food.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Use of מַאֲכָל is largely non-technical, functioning as a generic designation for food or nourishment, regardless of specific type. It appears occasionally in both legal and narrative texts to contrast with related terms such as לֶחֶם (leḥem, 'bread') or טֶרֶף (ṭeref, 'prey, food'), which are more specific. The term מַאֲכָל is not limited to ritual or sacrificial food, nor does it directly refer to food under specific purity laws—though it may, depending on context, include such regulated foods. This noun is attested across different genres (Torah, Prophets, Writings) but is not especially frequent. In the exilic and post-exilic periods, its meaning remained consistent with pre-exilic usage, often overlapping with but not replacing more specialized terms. English translations as 'food' are generally adequate, though they may lose the nuance of generality and inclusivity regarding the type of food. In poetic usage, it can symbolize sustenance or that which is consumed by creatures in general.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אָכַל; an eatable (includ. provender, flesh and fruit); food, fruit, (bake-)meat(-s), victual.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אכל (ʾ-k-l) — to eat, consume
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H396 | אֲכִילָה | the edible provision |
| H3979 | מַאֲכֶלֶת | the slaughter-knife |
| H398 | אָכַל | to eat |
| H3980 | מַאֲכֹלֶת | like an eating-implement of |
| H399 | אֲכַל | they ate |
Word Forms
7 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3978-02 |
מַֽאֲכָל֙ | maakhal | HNcmsa |
food | food | 15 |
H3978-01 |
לְ/מַאֲכָ֑ל | lemaakhal | HR/Ncmsa |
for food | for food | 8 |
H3978-05 |
וּ/מַאֲכַ֣ל | umaakhal | HC/Ncmsc |
and the food | and food-of | 3 |
H3978-07 |
וּ/מַאֲכָל֖/וֹ | umaakhalo | HC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
and his food | and his food | 1 |
H3978-06 |
וּ/מַאֲכָֽלְ/ךָ֙ | umaakhalekha | HC/Ncmsc/Sp2ms |
and-your-food | and your food | 1 |
H3978-04 |
מַאֲכַלְ/כֶ֖ם | maakhalekhem | HNcmsc/Sp2mp |
your food | your food | 1 |
H3978-03 |
מַאֲכָלָֽ/הּ | maakhalah | HNcmsc/Sp3fs |
her food | her food | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
30 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3978-01 |
Genesis 2:9 | לְ/מַאֲכָ֑ל | lemaakhal | HR/Ncmsa |
for food | for food |
H3978-01 |
Genesis 3:6 | לְ/מַאֲכָ֜ל | lemaakhal | HR/Ncmsa |
for food | for food |
H3978-02 |
Genesis 6:21 | מַֽאֲכָל֙ | maakhal | HNcmsa |
food | food |
H3978-02 |
Genesis 40:17 | מַאֲכַ֥ל | maakhal | HNcmsc |
food | food |
H3978-02 |
Leviticus 19:23 | מַאֲכָ֔ל | maakhal | HNcmsa |
food | food |
H3978-02 |
Deuteronomy 20:20 | מַאֲכָל֙ | maakhal | HNcmsa |
of food | food |
H3978-01 |
Deuteronomy 28:26 | לְ/מַאֲכָ֔ל | lemaakhal | HR/Ncmsa |
for food | for food |
H3978-02 |
Judges 14:14 | מַאֲכָ֔ל | maakhal | HNcmsa |
something to eat | food |
H3978-05 |
1 Kings 10:5 | וּ/מַאֲכַ֣ל | umaakhal | HC/Ncmsc |
and the food | and food-of |
H3978-02 |
Isaiah 62:8 | מַֽאֲכָל֙ | maakhal | HNcmsa |
as food | food |